Hey everybody...I use AA every time I drive my car. I opted not to buy the GM nav becuse I didn't relish the thought of bringing it in to the dealer for Nav system updates (they don't do OTA updates). I really enjoy the features of AA. First thing I do when I get into the car is plug in my LG V20 phone with the cable I already have pre-plugged in to one of the two the center console USB ports. Then it's like magic...AA just takes over my screen
Here's what I like about AA (on my 2017 50th Anniversary 2SS):
1. The overview screen "remembers" my most recent calls and drives, so I can just touch one of those to go "Home" or to "Work" (no fussing with menus unless I'm going somewhere/doing something different than usual).
2. I have "
Ok Google" enabled on my phone, so nearly everything I do is by voice (but I can also long-press the call button on my steering wheel to tell AA what I want). Texting completely hands-free is amazing! Here's how it goes for me..."
Ok, Google" (AA/Google chirp prompt sounds and music/radio pauses).
Text Cindy. I'm on my way home" (AA/Google chirp prompt sounds again). Then a voice says, "
Here's your message to Cindy...I'm on my way home...do you want to send it or change it?" Then I say, "
Send it!" Then the voice says, "
Ok (brief pause)...
message sent." Then whatever I had playing for music/radio resumes. Easy-peasy!
3. For music, the first touch of the headphone icon will bring up your last-used music app. The second touch of the same icon will show all of your available music apps (of the compatible music apps installed on your phone). In my case, this means, Pandora, iHeart Radio, Google Music, and Amazon Music. I tend to use Pandora, iHeart Radio, or Google Music, but I've tried all of them, and they all work fine.
4. The phone icon is the one I use the least (because I do almost all calls by voice), but there are some nice features there too. One touch of the phone icon brings up your contacts. For me, this is helpful for one contact that OK Google can't seem to recognize properly when I speak it. I just touch to select that contact and the call goes through! Beyond that, I really enjoy just telling my car to "Call Cindy mobile" and it does the rest. Music/radio stops, call starts and goes through, I have my conversation, hang up with the call end button on steering wheel, and my music/radio just resumes. Perfect!
5. Waze is "on the way!" Soon, we'll be able to switch between navigation apps Google Maps and Waze, just as I described above with the various music apps. Right now, I'm using Google Maps on the 8" screen and it works great. But I prefer Waze's routing, so I'm really looking forward to that.
6. Oh, by the way, make sure you check the detailed Bluetooth settings for your Chevrolet MyLink connection to make sure
Call Audio and
Message Audio are enabled. And here's
ONE REALLY IMPORTANT POINT: If you want to multi-task with AA (meaning run Google maps, for example,
AND Pandora at the same time
AND have it all work smoothly, your phone
must be capable. I struggled for months with an under-powered phone (LG Tribute 5--awful phone!). I would start both Maps and Pandora and everything would be fine for a few minutes. Then Pandora would just quit! I blamed AA for a long time, until I watched some demos on YouTube and noticed how much faster everything seemed to work for others. So, I upgraded to a flagship phone and the difference is night and day. It's like my phone isn't even trying and everything is snappy and responsive!
Bottom line: For me, AA is the only way to go. The charging cable I use has magnetic, interchangeable tips (USB-C and Lightning tips), so I CAN use my work iPhone 6 plus for Apple Car Play without digging into the center console to switch to a lightning cable, but I never do that anymore (I tried it once...it works...but, ugh, what an ugly interface!). It's AA for me, all the way, all the time.
Hope this info was helpful.
